Indian Test captain Shubman Gill has become the leading run-scorer in Test cricket since the start of 2025. The right-handed batsman has enjoyed great form in the longest format and has consistently scored runs for India in both home and away conditions.
Gill achieved the feat during the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on Saturday, June 6, 2026. India ended the first day in a strong position at 368/3, with Gill remaining unbeaten. Opener KL Rahul also scored a century before being out for 100 runs.
Shubman Gill continues record-breaking performance as India’s Test captain
Since the start of 2025, Gill has scored 1,086 runs in 17 innings at an average of 77.6, including six centuries and one half-century, the most by any batsman in the format during this period. Gill enjoyed a great 2025 season and scored 983 runs in nine Test matches at an average of 70.21, which included five centuries.
He scored unbeaten 103 runs against Afghanistan on the first day. This was his 11th Test century, and he became the fastest Indian captain to reach 1,000 Test runs as captain, achieving the milestone in just 351 days.
India overcame initial fear of gaining control
India ended the first day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in a strong position with 368/3. Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 103 runs, while Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 50 runs. Earlier, KL Rahul scored a century and SAI Sudarshan contributed 81 runs to lead the hosts in New Chandigarh.
However, India’s strong position does not tell the whole story of the opening session. Both the openers were lucky at the start of their innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 11 at gully, while KL Rahul survived for 16 when Afghanistan decided not to review a potential edge behind the stumps.
Afghanistan finally broke the opening partnership when Jaiswal fell for 24 after bowling the ball down the leg side. The visitors bowled with discipline in the early stages, with Ziaur Rehman Sharifi, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Salim Safi continuously challenging the Indian batsmen outside the off-stump.
Sai Sudarshan won the opening test before falling for 81 runs
After coming to the crease, Sai Sudarshan also had to face a tough challenge. Afghanistan targeted the weakness that England exposed during their tour last year, setting the leg-side zone and trying to force mistakes with a clear bowling plan.
The left-handed batsman handled the strategy well and scored most of his runs on the leg side. However, at times he looked uncertain outside the off stump. He also survived that initial opportunity when the catch was dropped at first slip.
Sudarshan’s innings ended on 81 runs when wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai caught him off the bowling of Mohammad Salim Safi. By then, he had put together a crucial partnership with Rahul before Gill and Pant took charge in the final session and put India in a dominant position at stumps.
